Q&A #8 Can Sleep Apnea Kill You?

It ruins your rest, but can sleep apnea kill you?

Quick answer: no.

However, when you look more deeply into the causes behind sleep apnea and the problem it presents, you can see plenty of ways sleep apnea can lead to things that can kill you.

In short, sleep apnea doesn’t kill you in the same way that diabetes doesn’t kill you. It’s not fatal directly, but its secondary effects and subsequent symptoms can be.

What do these “subsequent symptoms” look like? We’re going to look at how sleep apnea affects your heart and your brain--and how those effects can pose a substantial health risk.

The Heart

The heart oxygenates your blood and ensures that blood circulates to areas of your body that need it (here’s a hint: your whole body needs oxygen all the time).

When you suffer from sleep apnea, those momentary lapses of oxygen add up.

What happens then?

Your heart rate and blood pressure go up. The heart is straining itself before we’ve even looked at other systems in the body that affect heart health.

This heart-strain results in hypertension, from which 50-70% of sleep apnea patients suffer.

Now imagine that jolt of panic that wakes you up from an episode of airway obstruction. That’s a classic example of your innate fight-or-flight response.

In other words, your sympathetic nervous system is inundating you with fear hormones and adrenaline, putting tremendous strain on your heart every time you sit bolt upright in bed.

Naturally, that repeated stress takes its toll on your arteries and your heart’s lining. People with sleep apnea are more likely to experience coronary artery disease and heart attacks than those without.

A CPAP machine is designed to ensure that your body gets the uninterrupted flow of oxygen it needs to work properly throughout the night.

The Brain

The number one consumer of oxygen in your body is your brain. It’s the central hub of everything that makes you you.

So just as your heart struggles to keep up when you suffer from sleep apnea, your brain does, too. Even beyond the tendency for sleep apnea patients to develop mental illnesses, your risk of stroke goes up as well.

Why does this happen?

When your brain lacks oxygen, blood vessels must dilate to compensate. Poorly oxygenated blood is significantly more likely to clot, which creates an entire network of problems for your brain.

You could keep on with pausing in your breathing dozens of times throughout the night--or you could get evaluated for a prescription for a CPAP machine, which will make the pauses go away.

Think of it this way: 40-60% of stroke victims also had sleep apnea.

Risk Factors and Some Perspective

If you want to give yourself the best chance to succeed in your sleep apnea treatment, consider keeping away from drugs, alcohol, and cigarettes.

Anything that weakens your airways will naturally increase your risks for the above issues. Just common sense.

On a similar note, drinking alcohol before bed will depress your airways and make sleep apnea symptoms more prevalent.

The flip side is a CPAP machine, which protects your heart and brain by helping you breathe easily.

We don’t mean any of this to frighten you. We want to highlight the importance of treating your symptoms and giving yourself the best chance to live a long, happy life.

You owe it to yourself!